Silvia's Cucina

When it comes to food and cookery, it certainly helps to be Italian. "Growing up in Italy, in a family of natural cooks," says author, food-blogger and actress, Silvia Colloca, "I very quickly developed an interest in culinary matters, but it was only in my early twenties and touring Italy with theatre shows that I saw first hand the vast diversity of my country, from dialects, politics and religion, to the very core of our national identity: our food."

Born in Italy with a Nonna whose bruschetta now lives on in these pages (along with her Christmas consomme, potato and Marsala doughnuts, and sausage stew with soft polenta) Silvia is never happier than when she is creating healthy versions of food she has loved all her life.

As a mother of two young sons, Silvia knows that speed and flavour count for much, and so her piadina (a ham and stracchino cheese wrap) and eggs poached in tomato sauce - another Nonna-specialty - will soon become favourites in her readers' kitchens, as they are in hers.

With grandmothers from two different regions, she was doubly blessed with heritage recipes from both sides of the family. Fortunately Silvia took the time to save as many of her family recipes as possible. When her maternal grandmother was very old, Silvia cooked along with her, converting 'some' and 'just enough' into actual measurements so that she (and now others) can cook those dishes and achieve the same delicious results.

But being Italian, there is no way the recipes have landed on the page as cold hard numbers and words. You'll meet the creators of them, learn their stories, share their tips, and realise why Italian food is so universally loved. Teaching herself these recipes, half a world away from her homeland, she admits: "I feel I have found my authentic Italian identity in my Sydney kitchen."

Silvia's Cucina, by Silvia Colloca, published by Lantern, 2013, paperback, rrp $39.99.

 

- reviewed by Sally Hammond

 

Add comment


Security code
Refresh

Related Articles

231_15676799571_5105_n

 

 

Www.Foodandtravel.Com.Au - Australia

Best Food Travel Website 2021

 


foodandtravel.com.au has been awarded

Best Antipodean Culinary Travel Expert, 2019

by the prestigious UK-based magazine...

 

 

 

Planning a visit to Kerala? The old port district of Kochi is well worth seeing, as well.

Our tuk-tuk driver, Shaheer, showed us the secrets of the narrow back streets. To contact Shaheer...

Email Shaheer HERE...

Mobile: 9946129040

More about Kochi...

 


 

LISTEN TO SALLY'S PODCASTS...

...from all around the world

Tune in and hear her talks on     

Radio 2GB 873AM....

 

 

WHO LIKES SWISS CHEESE?

Did you miss seeing the recent story of the Swiss festival of cows coming down from the mountains?

Read about it for yourself...

 


 

Denmark Delivers

Copenhagen's canals, a palace with pomp and cermnony, a kilometre-long shopping street, crayon-cooured canal-front dining...

...what more can a visitor ask for? Find out, because there is much more.

 


 

History and beauty with a dash of fun...

...and that's just the beginning of Armenia!

 


 

Zany Zadar & Croatia's north

Crazy and beautiful, a place everyone should visit.

Read more...

 


 

Lovely Lisbon ~ and beyond. Sardines and secrets!

Find out much more here.... 

 


 

Two virtual visits to Ontario

here....

AND

.....here!

 


 

Where is Tbilisi? 

Once you discover its beauty and history, you will be making plans to visit as soon as you can.

Read more....

 


 

Madrid the marvelous - so much to see in Spain's capital.

See it all here....

 


 

If you missed reading about Thailand's organic produce....

Here is the new link....

 


 

Here's something fun to check out!

The world's most popular surnames ....

...by country

 


 

~ Northern Spain ~

mountains and miracles - and much more!

After this journey, many people will never see the world the same way again.

 

Find out why....

 


 

Visit Portugal's beautiful

hearl....

Gondolas, cathedrals, cakes and a palace thrown in for good measure.

See for yourself!

 


 

And how about these vineyards in Georgia?

See other gardens in strange locations here....

 


 

 

Make your own food and travel videos? YES YOU CAN!

Gordon Hammond gives some insider tips.....

 


 

Travelling to Sydney? The northern beaches are spectacular.

See what we mean...

 


 

Hungary has something for every traveller.

Especially those who love good food...